Good Vibrations? Spillovers on Local Corruption from Protected Areas

• In Event: Corruption in the Public Sector

Abstract

The literature on corruption and natural resource governance has largely studied the impact from corruption on environmental conservation. This paper advances a perspective not investigated in prior research: To what extent do areas where protected area institutions are established experience changes in local levels of corruption? We analyze survey data on perceived and experienced local-level corruption among individuals in South Africa over time, matched through GPS-points with expanding PA borders. We combine generalized difference-in-differences estimations and fixed-effects models to gauge the impact of protected area institutions on corruption. Our analysis suggests that citizens living near where PAs are being established largely experience lower levels of corruption. Our findings further explore the mechanisms, such as community involvement, that seem to cause these trends.

Author

• Aksel Sundström, Department for Political Science, the Quality of Government Institute, University of Gothenburg